"Detroit, Michigan is the largest football city in Michigan," said David Kinsman, who owns the Thunder, along with another CIFL team called the Port Huron Patriots. "And there hasn't been indoor football for quite some time in the city.

"And we have a business model to start slow and prove to the city we're going to make it for the people; then we'll grow cautiously to make sure the Thunder doesn't become one of those teams that's here this year and gone."

Kinsman said the Thunder will play its inaugural season at the Taylor Sportsplex and might move to a larger venue in 2014.

The team's first home game in Taylor is 4 p.m. Feb. 24 against the Eerie Explosion; tickets for all games are $10.

Kinsman said the Thunder's roster, expected to have the CIFL team limit of 21 players, will have college graduates who started or at least played two seasons of college football. He's also looking for players with arena experience.

The roster is expected to be finalized at the end of this month before exhibition games begin in December.

"We want to penetrate the market in Detroit, but do it in a way where we're here for a long time," Kinsman said.

Kinsman declined to say if he's received interest from accomplished, well-known former college football players with ties to Metro Detroit or other parts of the state.

The Continental Indoor Football League has rules that are similar to the Arena Football League, including a 50-yard field, but doesn't use netting in the endzones.

Player salaries typically range from $50-$200; there's a $2,500 salary cap for each team.